The New Orleans Pelicans are hosting the Utah Jazz at the Smoothie King Center for Friday night preseason action, the first and only time before the season tip.
After two wins against teams who missed the Eastern Conference Playoffs last season, the New Orleans Pelicans play host to their toughest opponent of the preseason.
It’ll be the first time fans get to see their Pelicans take the floor at home since 10,000-plus showed up for the team’s open practice last Saturday.
Fans will be incredibly excited to see Zion Williamson take the floor for the first time at the Smoothie King Center, especially after his 29-point outburst in 28 minutes against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
Falling to 0-1 on the preseason this Wednesday, the Utah Jazz boasts a revamped roster with high-level talents in Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, plus new additions Mike Conley and Bogdanović.
Potentially, Utah has as many as four players capable of making the All-Star Game on their roster.
Tonight’s game will be the only chance to see the New Orleans Pelicans play home basketball until they have their home opener against the Dallas Mavericks two weeks from today.
The biggest storyline of the night is Derrick Favors, who has the first chance to play against the team he called home for the better part of his nine seasons in the NBA.
After being limited in their first two games, Favors and rookie center Jaxson Hayes will be fully available against the Jazz tonight. Fellow center Jahlil Okafor, however, is questionable with a nagging right knee issue.
Pelicans injury report - 10/11 vs. UTA
— Pelicans PR (@PelicansPR) October 10, 2019
Darius Miller - Out (right Achilles surgery)
Jahlil Okafor - Questionable (right knee contusion)
With a healthy squad and such promising results from their first two match-ups, New Orleans Pelicans fans might get to see a highly-energized squad entering the Smoothie King Center.
The Utah Jazz have the makings of a very good team and will hopefully bring out the best in the Pelicans’ roster of young phenoms and savvy veterans.
How to watch Utah Jazz @ New Orleans Pelicans
Fans watching the game from home in Louisiana will be able to watch tonight’s action on Fox Sports New Orleans.
The game will also be the third straight game featured on national television, being broadcasted via NBA TV.
Fans who don’t have a cable package yet can find a plan via Fubo.TV, where you can watch the Pelicans all season long, in or out of their market.
Want to watch in person? There are still seats for tonight’s game the team would be more than happy if New Orleans Pelicans’ fans show up to make the building loud.
How to listen to Utah Jazz @ New Orleans Pelicans
Tonight’s game will be on ESPN Radio NOLA’s 100.3 FM channel, where they’ll have calls of all 82 regular season New Orleans Pelicans games, in addition to the five in the preseason.
Fans who want to listen but are out of the New Orleans market can sign up for a TuneIn premium account to hear Pelicans games all season long.
What to read before tip-off of Utah Jazz @ New Orleans Pelicans
Rob Walker of NOLA.com gets fans ready for the first in-game appearance of Zion Williamson on the floor of the Smoothie King Center
The Chicago Sun-Times is impressed by Zion’s 29 point outing at the United Center and Joe Cowley explains how the Pelicans stole the night from the Bulls.
Pegged as a rising talent for the team a season ago, Preston Ellis of The Bird Writes talks about how Frank Jackson could be due for a breakout season among a team of studs.
Lonzo Ball gives credit where credit’s due to New Orleans Pelicans’ assistant Fred Vinson, who helped rework the third-year player’s jump shot over the offseason.